A Blog about Education Abroad

Tag: Summer School

Anja Pretorius at KU Leuven in Belgium

The moment I received the email that I was accepted for the Europe Inside Out Summer School at the Katholieke University in Leuven (KU Leuven) I was beyond excited and in a slight state of unbelief, I did not think that I would be accepted. Initially it felt unrealistic until the journey started to materialise with the preparations needed.

Pre-departure:

A suggestion I would make is to find another student from Stellenbosch that is attending the same Summer School as you are, this way you could find a travel companion and someone to share in the journey with you. I had the opportunity of meeting another girl my age at a Spitbraai hosted by the International office, we exchanged details and started engaging in travel arrangements together. This made the entire journey seemingly easier and a lot less daunting to approach.

The first step we took was to book our flights together, the earlier you book the less expensive your ticket will be. We booked our flights directly through the airline’s website. I would recommend using a credit card to pay, this way basic travel and medical insurance would be provided for through your bank. I took out an additional top-up insurance through the provider at my bank, for security purposes.

Being South African passport holders, we had to apply for our visas at the Belgium Consulate in Cape Town. We booked our appointments on the same day. After your booking is made the Consulate provides you with a list of documents that they require. The University provides you with most of them, you just have to check for any personal documents needed; and any additional documents if you are planning on travelling outside of the program. The process was hassle free and we received our visas perfectly in time for our trip.

After receiving my visa, I went to my bank to apply for a cash passport and to purchase euros. I phoned in and made an appointment and had to stipulate over the phone how much euros they had to set aside for me. I needed to have all my travel documents present at the appointment. The woman that handled my request was helpful, I left the bank with my cash euros, and a certain amount of euros already loaded onto my cash passport.

The last matter to attend to before departure was packing. Make sure what season it is in the country you are travelling to. Heading to Belgium, I had to pack for summer weather, yet their summer does not necessarily get as hot as our summer in Stellenbosch. It is super important to have comfortable shoes, for your trip might require a lot of walking, so be sure to take care of your feet. Make sure that you don’t have any problems with the wheels on your suitcase and that it is easy to travel with over long distances; taking into consideration the means of transport you will be using (hopping on and off trains, walking far, etc.).

Experience at the Host University:

Anja Pretorius and summer school class

Upon arrival my breath was taken away by this scenic town and it quickly made its way into my heart.

Me and my travel companion made the mistake of trying to find our accommodation by foot logging around our 30kg bags after extensive travels. On the brink of giving up all hope a kind gentleman helped us find our way and took us to the Irish College where we stayed for the duration of the Summer School. I would highly recommend rather taking a taxi as a link between the train station and your accommodation.

As a group of 70 students attending the Summer School, coming from all over the world and multiple disciplines, it was not expected that we would have much knowledge on the European Union (EU). Hence, the core programme kicked off with a discussion on the EU, how they came into existence and how they go about operations. This was the perfect way to start, since this brief introductory was needed as background knowledge for the entire program.

We had a rather full academic programme, with high quality lectures, company visits and day trips to other parts of Belgium. Apart from the core programme we had to choose two elective modules from a choice of four, the modules I chose included Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management and Doing business with Europeans. The topics covered in the lectures ranged from history to art, but the focus of the core programme was on politics. The two electives that I chose focused more on Europe’s investment in research and development and how to start a business in Leuven, also including information on the resources and assistance provided for by the University.

As part of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management we visited what is referred to as the MintLab and had two company visits. The MintLab is a part of the University’s research department, and it can be described as a space provided that encourages the creative thinking process. It is a problem-solving hub where the MintLab researchers get together to create solutions for problems spanning over various industries. Our first company visit was to IMEC, a world-leading R&D and innovation hub in nanoelectronics and digital technologies. It was amazing to see the process followed and equipment needed to create and manufacture digital processors. The second company visit was to Capricorn Venture Partners, an independent equity funds manager that invests in minority shareholding positions of innovative companies with technology as a competitive advantage. During our visit they explained the procedures they follow to identify an innovative tech business idea with high profit potential. From the list of applicants, they select a few to whom they provide funding for start-up purposes in exchange for a certain percentage shareholding.

Our first day trip was to Brussels, where we visited the European Parliament Building and the Museum of Fine Arts. I experienced Brussels as seemingly vibrant with quite a buzz in the city centre as they were preparing for the start of the Tour de France that coming weekend, which was also our weekend off. I had the privilege of seeing the start of the Tour de France that Saturday, which through-and-through made the trip so much more memorable for me. On our second day trip we went to Antwerp where we were taken on a city tour and ended the day at a museum. Antwerp is well-known as the fashion capital of Belgium, with various design boutiques for fashion moguls.

Something that grabbed my attention was the participative culture in the lectures abroad, where the international students actively engaged in discussion with the speakers during class. My learning experience at Stellenbosch University has been quite the opposite, I personally experience my lectures to be more passive, where the lecturer does most of the speaking.

We did not have any assessments or assignments to do additional to the lectures and had a reasonable amount of free time to explore Leuven and surrounding towns. Ghent was personally my favourite town to visit overall, that being so I visited Ghent twice, not getting enough of the picturesque scenery the first-time round. I would describe Ghent as a fairy-tale town with authentic medieval features prominent in its architecture. This is a must-see if you ever have the opportunity of going to Belgium.

Anja and friends, out in town

Return to Stellenbosch:

The first week back my classes started and we immediately dived into the new semester’s work which kept my mind occupied, so much so that I barely had a moment to think of Belgium. By the second week back reality hit me like a brick in the face, and at this point all I wanted was to jump on a plane and head back. I missed being able to just jump on a train in the spur of the moment and go and explore a nearby town. I missed the waffles, chocolates and the warmth of the Flemish-speaking Belgians. But going back would not be the same, since most of the amazing people that I met and befriended had returned to their home countries and I missed them most of all. For two weeks we gathered incredible memories, be it returning to the Irish College at 4 in the morning after a bar-hopping session, having pasta-runs and ice-cream dates, none of it would have been quite as exhilarating would it not have been for the remarkable people that crossed my path.

“Travelling messes you up, but in all the good ways. It leaves you always craving more, an addiction that can never quite be met. Every place, every trip, every person is a new adventure; pulling you deeper into the love of wanderlust. Your heart begins to hurt when you’re standing still, and your mind begins to itch over the idea of new places you haven’t been. Fill your soul with adventure and travelling and you will live a fulfilled life.”

– Anonymous

This quote perfectly describes how I feel after this trip. I am left wanting so much more. I regret not doing a semester exchange this year and truly enjoyed the academics while taking in Europe’s historic beauty. In my head I am already planning my next trip.

September 10, 2019
Nikiwe at Salzburg University in Austria
Pre-Departure:

Upon my nomination of the program, I was able to get direct correspondence with the host University – whom were not only helpful but seemed quite excited to have us attend the programme. I still had almost three months until the actual programme date so I was quite relaxed in terms of booking of flight tickets and visa applications. The panic only started to kick in when only a month was left and I had not done a thing!

Ergo, by the time I booked flight tickets prices had gone up quite a bit! Quick tip: check how much flights are online and compare them to quotations from at least two travel agencies to get the most buck for your money. Also be sure of the dates you wish to travel on as some programmes require that you arrive the day before orientation. In addition, confirm the accommodation period if the host university is providing it (this is also important for visa purposes).

The rest of the process of organising everything else was surprisingly easy!

Once I had received the Visa Letter from the SU Student Affairs office it was more a matter of making sure all of my documents were in order. This wasn’t too excruciating a task seeing as there is a checklist provided for on the Study Abroad Module. Once I had the Visa Appointment booked, however, the consultant required explicit instructions of my accommodation upon arriving at the host university as well as how long they would be providing the accommodation for (PS: MAKE SURE TO DOUBLE-CHECK ALL THE DOCUMENTS YOU NEED ON THE VISA WEBSITE BEFORE BOOKING AN APPOINTMENT!). The second Visa appointment went much smoother after “triple-checking” that all my documents were in order. The period between visa application and receiving the visa took exactly 10 days – something which I was very grateful for as it was my biggest worry! After finalising all the formalities, I made sure to have three copies of each document (passport, ID document, host university address and visa) for my hand luggage and suitcases. Overkill – I know – but necessary as well.

Extra tips:
1. Make sure to download phone applications that have an offline map of the destination you are travelling to.
2. Download applications of the bus or train systems as this will definitely make your life easier.
3. English is not as universal as you may think, familiarise yourself with some easy words that are essential – for example “I’m lost, Please Help”.
4. Check flight times and check-in online to save you queuing time.
5. Travel with a portable phone charger everywhere you go – you never know where you may end up!
6. Don’t forget to get a universal charger for purposes of charging your laptop and other devices as it is much cheaper in South Africa than overseas.
Experience at the Host University:

The programme was on European Private Law – a summer exchange for the duration of two weeks with the University of Salzburg.

Each lecture was presented by a representative Professor for each country ranging from England, Italy, Scotland, Portugal and other Nordic Regions to Canada, Louisiana and Puerto Rico. The duration of lectures differed from an hour to three hours at a time depending on the country. There were additional panel discussions pertaining to the creation of civil codes, mixed legal systems, comparative law, and law and languages. We further had workshops which consisted of group discussions that focused on family law, breach of contract and transfer of title scenarios. We had received a programme schedule of the seminars that would be held and were all quite diverse in the countries that they represented. Each seminar was given with the purpose of educating and informing the audience of how the creation of the respective “civil code”, South Africa being one of the few to present on our mixed legal system. The programme was on the whole very informative and had many different perspectives. We were not obligated to submit a final test or examination which made the whole programme more relaxed. The biggest difference between classes held in Stellenbosch as compared to the programme is that the seminars were held for much longer periods with breaks in between. The seminars were very interactive although a little clustered.

What I did not expect was a very hot 33 degrees Celsius upon arrival! Lesson learnt, check weather reports of EVERY day of the trip and pack accordingly! Salzburg’s weather went from extremely warm to decidedly chilly in a matter of days – not forgetting the numerous thunderstorms that decided to make an appearance towards the end of the trip.

Albeit a full schedule, it makes it easier to plan out all the activities that you are interested in so that you know how much time to set aside. My biggest regret is not having prearranged my schedule so that I could get the most out of enjoying the actual change of scenery and visiting more neighbouring villages in Austria. We did, however, get to visit Wolfsgangsee – a very large and beautiful lake as blue as the sky which was a welcome breath of fresh air from the hot weather with its open shores that allowed for an awesome swim. We also went to Halstatt, a small village which is known as the hallmark for the production of salt in Salzburg; the visit was absolutely breath-taking in addition to the Salt-Mine Tour which we took. Bad Ischl, on the other hand, known as a “spa town” had by far the best lager I had ever tasted!

The best part of the trip was the fantastic group of people we got to meet who were also attending the summer school. These were students from all parts of the world which made the experience that much more exciting and fun.

Taking in the beautiful riverside view

Return to Stellenbosch:

Two days prior to my departure from the summer school, reality started to kick in! Although it was a beautiful experience, I couldn’t help being excited about going back home and seeing all the faces that I am much more familiar with! As soon I arrived home, however, I found myself missing the 8PM sunsets on the terraces of some Austria’s oldest buildings, the morning runs next to River Salzach and her neighbouring fortresses, the short passages of the small town and steeped gravel pavements to the Stiegl-serving beer gardens, and especially the exquisite views of the Mirabell Palace gardens and her statues. Not to mention the Mascarpone-centered chocolate bars! Yum-my!

The programme opened my eyes to how different laws work across the globe, what influenced the development of certain legal systems and how different outcomes can be reached in a variety of ways. I did not anticipate such notable differences between the various legal systems. I further realised that just and fair outcomes can be achieved through various means, which implies that one legal system is not superior to another.

I couldn’t help but notice all the differences between life in South Africa compared to that in Austria, our economic and political priorities compared to that of most other countries which were presented, as well as the numerous accolades South Africa received for having “one of the best Constitutions in the world”. I found that South Africa makes more use of electronic means of payment, as this tends to be limited in Austria where a few corner restaurants only accept cash payment. This was quite surprising as presumed that Austria, as a developed country, would be more “up to date” in this respect. On the positive side, I found it a wonderful discovery that fresh and wholesome foods are more readily available in Austria as compared to South Africa’s refined-foods dispensation.

The perspectives gained from other students who were a part of the programme were more personal and gave me insight into the kind of lifestyle and set-up of their respective countries.

This intrigued me and ignited my curiosity about cultures and experiences in foreign countries. As such, I am already planning trips to these awesome destinations and I most definitely am planning to travel to a lot more places in the near future (especially considering that I made so many new friends who happen to live across the globe).

I find myself constantly keeping a look-out for study opportunities such as summer or winter schools, as well as opportunities to study further overseas.
August 5, 2019
Claudia at Radboud University in The Netherlands

Pre-departure:

Pre-departure is an exciting time and luckily for me it was a very simple process. If you are in the same lucky boat and have an EU passport too, you will find that skipping the visa application is a major benefit. So a tip would be that if you have access to dual citizenship – as in, if you are directly related to someone who was born in the EU, you should find out if you qualify for an EU passport. The initial hassle is most definitely worth it.

So with my passport, I was lucky enough to just focus on the booking, packing and learning.

With regards to booking and something that I didn’t necessarily consider, is to make sure that you fly to the nearest international airport – and it is not necessarily in the same country. In my case I would have saved quite a bit if I flew into Germany rather than straight to Amsterdam. So that is something to consider.

The summer school that I attended didn’t initially have university accommodation, so I had to book separate accommodation. But something to keep in mind is that plans change – and they change often. Try be sure that any accommodation that you book has a free cancellation policy, because as in my case – the university made accommodation available in one of their residences. Although, it isn’t compulsory to stay there and of course you would still have to pay for it, it is a lot more fun. Most of the other summer school participants stay in the university accommodation, so to make the most out of meeting people I made use of my free cancellation at the hotel and opted to stay with my fellow students.

One thing about majority of Europe, is that the summers there are not that same is the summers we are blessed with in South Africa. Remember to pack warm clothes too, some days the weather in Nijmegen was the same as our winter days back home. I travelled with a travel backpack, which I highly recommend. Although space might be tight, it is much easier to manoeuvre around with both of you hands free, especially in the trains. And with regards to the trains, it is definitely less stressful to book train tickets when you get there. There are so many trains, there will definitely be on to the place that you need to go to at the time that you want to go there, so do not panic.

Last but not least for things to think about before you get there, is that yes, it is expensive. But rather than dipping into all of your savings or spending extra money on bank fees, get yourself a cash passport. This is a debit card, where you put in the money that you would like to spend and it automatically converts it to euros, so no need to pay the South African banks conversion costs, you pay euros in euros…Happy packing!

Claudia’s boat trip

Experience at the Radboud University:

As I mentioned in my pre-arrival post, I was fortunate enough to stay in the university residence, Talia. Although Radboud is unlike Stellenbosch University where are all the res’s are on campus and everything is within walking distance, the res is very conveniently placed near the city centre and right next to the train station. Distance to campus was very conveniently solved through the distribution of very entertaining and very Dutch bicycles. These bikes are given to the students who arrive early enough to receive them, so try be early. If you aren’t comfortable on the bikes, or you don’t get one, there are buses that are available at a cost.

I stayed in Talia and at the university for the duration of my summer school, which was one week – 6 days. There was class from 9am-5pm for the five weekdays, with a welcoming session on the morning of the first day.

I attended Sustainability Science: A system dynamics perspective. This was hosted by Prof. Vincent de Gooyert as well as numerous guest lecturers. There were approximately 25 people in the class, all from completely different backgrounds and experience levels. Our days consisted of a morning lecture by Vincent where he prepared interactive lectures on system dynamics with the theme being climate change and sustainability. During this time we were introduced to the modelling programme, “Vensim PLE”. It was incredible to experience how much one can learn in a short space of time and how applicable this course could be to almost any line of work.

Back to morning lectures

In the afternoon sessions, we had guest lecturers. We had a very interactive lesson in a model United Nations format, on the first day. We were exposed to the actual ins and outs of how decisions are made between governmental parties at a very serious, mock climate change conference. The actual program that is used at these international conferences was used in this sessions and decisions that were made by the participants influenced the state of climate change in 2100.

On the second afternoon we had a lecture discussing the Port of Rotterdam and how imports and exports occur and the organisation and technological advancements that are involved at the biggest port in the Netherlands.

The third day was an interactive afternoon using Vensim, where the class chose to discuss the factors that influence anti-vaccination activism. This was particularly helpful as it gave real-time insight into the programme that we were learning. From after this lesson, the afternoons were free for us as students to work on our own Vensim models.

Each and every evening included very well organised and incredibly entertaining social events. I highly recommend taking part in at least of the events per day, as this is where I bonded with some of the most incredible people, that I will most definitely keep in contact with – which is a major reason why we go on a summer school, isn’t it?

Claudia in some new Radboud gear 😉

Returning to Stellenbosch:

Coming back to Stellenbosch I realised that we too live a great university life back here. Although we may not have busses that take us all over town and that we need to walk everywhere, we live a great life here. Our university is very tight-knit and the walking everywhere allows for a day-to-day interaction with strangers that you can’t easily replicate.

I could also appreciate that our university is very much on-par with those around the world. Although Radboud University may lack some – vintage-like charm, the modern living has a few perks too. It was fun to see state of the art technology being showcased around campus, especially in their sporting arena. With very few unhealthy eating options in the food court, healthy living is further promoted through the many exercise options available to the students for free. From a climbing wall, to beach volleyball, to yoga and tennis, they have it all – and right on campus.

Summer school, or any exchange abroad is a fantastic opportunity to extend your network and make friends or future colleagues form around the world. I was fortunate to do just that and the university made it very easy. This experience has solidified my love for travelling and I now have friends that I need to visit again – so I will have to continue my travels.

That being said, we are so incredibly fortunate to live in a country so different in relation to other countries and with people so different from each other. Travelling just shows that because we are all so different back home, we can get along with so many different people abroad. Being exposed to many different cultures while travelling as a young adult, brings tolerance back to our own home, building a brighter future for our university too.

August 1, 2019